The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-11-17
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOings at the Ma
tiOnal Capital


over a mass of papers which the Department
purchased many years ago OF rebel named
Pickett who was Consul General 60 Mexico be-
fore the war. and was rather prominent in
many ways The papers were purchased In
the expectation that they would throw some
light on a number OF cotton claims. Tins eN-
pectation was not fulfilled, but ] have found
them rich !u another sort Of information. They
have much 10 DO with the French expedition
20 Mexico. aud explain incidentally many
things which have heretofore been rather mys-
FERROUS 90 those who have studied that episode.
Particularly are they interesting in showing
the inception of the scheme 60 occupy Mexico
by the French forces and put the Austrian
Macmillan on the throne. ostensibly as an
Emperor, but really as puppet OF Louis Ma
pOlean."
That is certainly interesting" said !. Tell
me all about it,
well. the movement started really before
the war, when Mramon the leader OF the Geri-
cal Party. was President At that time the
Catholic Church had, by means Of mOrte-mGiH, or
the dead hand, secured possession of much
more than half of the productive land in the
country, and from this the Church received
great revenue, exceeding S22.0Ol.000. OF
course this was felt TO be very burdens0me Y
the rest of the Mexicans aud strenuous efforts
for reformation were made. Just about this
time, too, Mlamon had paid 20 the British
Minister S6D0.0O0 in satisfaction OF claims Of
English citizcns for interest on bonds aud other
things. Alter Mimmon had paid over the
money in coin he plotted with some rascals 10
break into the British Legation aud steal the
money back, which was done, causing good
deal OF feeling la England. Shortly after the
Republicans came into power Ina Mexico under
Juarez their first act was 10 soQugstrate the
estates of The Church. Owing 10 various COM
plicati0ns these were not sold 10 good adyaa-
tage rs the title was feared aud other things
ii. al l..
were ali given very cheaply 10 adherents o.
that party. decker, the Swiss banker OF Mexico.
who had lent the 5000. 900 10 Miramon, had re-
ceyed for il $4,000, 600 in National bonds. the
payment of which was ieopardcd by the success
of the Republican party.
Miramon and two or three men associated
with him, decker the banker, and the Arch
bishop of Mexico went 10 Europe. The Area
bishops part of the plot WAS 10 approach the
Pope aud get bis assistance in the movement
which would restore the power of the Church.
IL was concluded that the best way WAS 10 work
through Eagenie, the Empress. Sine would
likely favor some such movement as the French
made when they restored the Pope 60 his throne
in 1916. Miramon and the others went directly
20 Paris where they operated through the sat
elites around the Emperor. giving them large
blocks OF Sl5,00O,00O in bonds la consideration
of their influence TO bring about the French
support. Eugenie seems 90 have done her part
well, for Louis Napolean fell readily into the
scheme, and the next step was 10 bring about
tr- partite alliance with England and Spain,
the announced object of which 10 occupy
Vera Cruz and collect the customs there
until certain claims belonging TO citizens of the
three nations were satisfied. The occupation
OF Vera Cruz was carried out successfully. and
there disagreement arose between the three
nations The French Minister Immediately
became very strenuous for an advance upon
the City of Mexico while the British and
Spanish Ministers insisted on adhering to the
original plan OF remaining Ina Vera Cruz A
rupture followed. which resulted in the with
dTawal OF the British and spanish troops.
Then came the scheme Of the Emperor to
take possession of the Government of the conn
try. Has first idea was to put Prince Napoleon
on the throne. This WAS impracticable, IL
would have aroused the jealousy of the other
nations. especially Spain. Then he decided
upon Macmillan, who was the brother of the
Emperor Of Austria, and whose wife was the
daughter of the King of The Bepians. The ad-
vaniaEes Of this was that ID would give the
movement the sympathy aud support Of the
two nations The people OF these countries
and OF France were caplivated with promises
of great trade they We're 10 have with Mexico
The battle of Gettysburg had an important ef-
efect upon the scheme. Up until that great
victory our public men. with Seward al the
head, tcmp0glzed with the scheme, and even
tacitly sanctioned il. The moment we had won
the victories m Gettysburg and Nicksburg our
attitude changed TO one OF active hostility.
From thai time the enterprise was doomed"
remember" / said, there was a great
deal of active hostility in the army 10 the
movement. As early as 1864 we began Ia think
about intervening la behalf Of the Mexicans
and Gen. John &. Black now Commissioner of
Pensions was sent across 90 MatamOras with
his regiment, ostcnsibly 10 protect American
interests, but really with a chip on his Shout
der 10 give occasion for active intervention"
Yes replied the gentleman land as the
certainty Of the overthrow OF the rebellion be-
came more evident, the desire of our leading
Generals aud statesmon 10 take a hand in the
matter became more marked. A great many
thought that IL would b. AN important help
toward paciying the country 10 send an army
OF rebel and Union soldiers into Mexico, over
throw Macmillan, and drive out the French
Some assert that Sheridan, and perhaps other
high officers, favored this plan. Anyway. il is
certain that Grant, Sheridan, Thomas and Sher.
man were All anxious Tor this country 20 give
help 10 the struggling Mexicans, and YOU will
remember that Sheridan went down TO the
RIO GF3nde with quite number Of troops and,
u Is generally believed, with a chip on his
shoulder
Aud what" ] asked, do you think were
the chancosof success ia any event of the Lou s
Napoleon preieciYh
Tie only chance il had IN the world was
that we should hight ourselves 10 utter eY-
haustion. Otherwise il had no hope of sue
cess. lf the rebels had succeeded In securing
their Independence, almost the first thing they
would have done would have been some dem
onstraiion against the Latin Empire in Mexico
with a view 10 conquerng and annexing the
country themselves"
LAMAR AND sPARKs--wHo SHALL COZ
The long-looked-for crisis between the Sec.
Tetary Ol the interior and Gen. Sparks, Com.
missioner Of the General Land Office arrived
very suddenly last Friday, when Mr.. lamar
arrived al last at the extreme limit of his ex.
tensiNe stock Of patient endurance, aud wrote
las doughty sub0rdinat a singing letter that
the latter viii undoubtedly ponder over 70,
many aud many long day. The scholarly
Secretary proved his fail right 10 rival even
Roscoe Cnnkling la the ability 10 administer
ecAthlng invcctlVe, concealed Ia The most schol.
arly and clean English
III has never been anything of a secret no.
even an open secret" since the first few
weeks alter Cen Sparkss installation int
Office that he and his immediate chief held
very different opinions upon a number OF sub
Jects relating % the public domain and tina
~ the months went by that Mr. Lamar chafeC
more and more at the official acts OF has sub
ordinate. The decisions Of Gen. Sparks and
their prompt oyerIulinP by the Secretary becam,
80 common that they attracted no attention
from thc general public. and lawyers lookint
alter homestead on other claims paid no attcn
uon az all TO the Commissioners ruling bu
looked invariably Ia advance TO am appea
10 the Secretary, and almost invariably with